Helpline
Helpline +32 (0)2 648 40 14
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VOLUNTEER

We Always Need Volunteers

We offer two opportunities to volunteer

HELPLINE LISTENING VOLUNTEERS

We always need more people to join our team of listening volunteers. Being a listening volunteer can have a profound impact, both on those you help and on your own personal growth. As a listening volunteer, you become part of a vital support network for those who need it most, and you can make a real difference in someone’s life.

To be a listening volunteer with the CHS Helpline, you need to be:

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Fluent English-speaker, but English does not have to be your mother-tongue
  • Resident in Belgium
  • Know that you will stay in Belgium for at least three years
  • Be able to offer around 30 hours each month for taking calls, as well as receive on-going training and supervision (3 hours per month). You will be asked to sometimes take calls during weekends or at night.

We are looking for people who can be caring and understanding of our callers’  situation.  You do not need any previous experience or specific qualifications..  We are looking for people who are:

  • Empathetic and easily put themselves in another person’s shoes, relate to how they are feeling and respond with care
  • Open-minded and able to listen in a non-judgemental and non-discriminatory way
  • Discreet and prioritise and respect CHS core values of confidentiality and anonymity

Don’t worry! Before you start answering calls, we will provide comprehensive training.  You will learn how to:

  • be an active listener and discover how powerful it is for callers to feel truly heard and understood.
  • cope with different types of call, including from callers in crisis or who are feeling suicidal
  • tap into a CHS support network so that you never feel you have to cope with your experience as a listening volunteer on your own

 

You will be mentored by an experienced volunteer who will guide you through the comprehensive training programme and work alongside you as you start to take calls on the Helpline.  Typically the training period takes between 3-4 months.

The application process is: 

  1. Send an email to office@chsbelgium.org
  2. Complete a short online enquiry form with some basic details about yourself
  3. One of our team will call you to discuss the role and its requirements, to determine if it’s the right fit for you.
  4. Attend an interview with one of the Helpline Supervisors and an experienced listening volunteer so that we can get to know each other better

     

At the end of this process, if you choose to continue, we will assign you a mentor so that you can start the training programme.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

CHS OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

If volunteering as a listening volunteer on the Helpline is not for you, consider joining our team of CHS Office Volunteer, helping provide administrative support for the whole organisation.  

We welcome people with different backgrounds and skills.  These include:

  • simple administrative tasks such as handling requests for appointments
  • administrative support for the CHS Council (decision making body)
  • managing social media accounts
  • communications and promoting the Helpline
  • basic accounting skills
  • coordinating and running fund-raising events

 

If your skills are not listed here but you feel you would like to help – we still want to hear from you!

All we ask is that you are:

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Fluent in English (it doesn’t have to be your mother tongue)
  • Willing to respect the core principles of confidentiality
  • Computer literate and have basic administrative skills
  • An empathetic and calm person so that when clients call, you can show discretion and understanding
  • Available for 1-2 days a week, ideally during office hours (10:00 – 16:00)

CHS has an office in Brussels where the administrative staff is based.  IDeally we would like you to join us in the office.  However, tele-working arrangements can be allowed for certain tasks.

  1. Send a motivation letter and your CV to the CHS Office Administrator  explaining why you would like to join the team and highlighting any relevant skills as well as your availability at office@chsbelgium.org.  
  2. Wait to be contacted by the Office Administrator who will discuss your application with you.
  3. Attend an interview with the Office Administrator to get to know each other and clarify if this opportunity is right for you.  
APPLY TO BE AN OFFICE VOLUNTEER

CHS OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

If volunteering as a listening volunteer on the Helpline is not for you, consider joining our team of CHS Office Volunteer, helping provide administrative support for the whole organisation.  

We welcome people with different backgrounds and skills.  These include:

  • simple administrative tasks such as handling requests for appointments
  • administrative support for the CHS Council (decision making body)
  • managing social media accounts
  • communications and promoting the Helpline
  • basic accounting skills
  • coordinating and running fund-raising events

 

If your skills are not listed here but you feel you would like to help – we still want to hear from you!

All we ask is that you are:

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Fluent in English (it doesn’t have to be your mother tongue)
  • Willing to respect the core principles of confidentiality
  • Computer literate and have basic administrative skills
  • An empathetic and calm person so that when clients call, you can show discretion and understanding
  • Available for 1-2 days a week, ideally during office hours (10:00 – 16:00)

CHS has an office in Brussels where the administrative staff is based.  IDeally we would like you to join us in the office.  However, tele-working arrangements can be allowed for certain tasks.

  1. Send a motivation letter and your CV to the CHS Office Administrator  explaining why you would like to join the team and highlighting any relevant skills as well as your availability at office@chsbelgium.org  
  2. Wait to be contacted by the Office Administrator who will discuss your application with you.
  3. Attend an interview with the Office Administrator to get to know each other and clarify if this opportunity is right for you.  
APPLY TO BE AN OFFICE VOLUNTEER

HELPLINE VOLUNTEER TESTIMONIES

After living in different countries for over 20 years, I've learned volunteering helps me to integrate and get a sense of fulfilment. When I found CHS while searching for an English-speaking Helpline in Brussels, I saw a chance to make a difference and help those in need.
The work that we do as volunteer listeners can be very challenging and even draining, but ultimately if you can be there for one person in a time of crisis or despair, it is extremely worth it.
As well as the sense of fulfilment that I get from being there for our callers to the Helpline, I have also really benefited from the support that I get from the other volunteers on the Helpline. I love being part of such a committed and caring group of people. I have made friends that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.
It is a privilege to accompany a caller from a place of deep anxiety and hopelessness to one where they feel calmer and better able to cope with their situation. It is amazing how powerful it can be just to provide a non-judgemental listening ear for someone who has no one else to turn to.

SUPPORT US

If you have reached this page it is probably because you are a compassionate person who understands the importance of mental health and would like to help in some way.  We are thrilled to invite you to join our mission of making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

Our organisation thrives on the generosity and innovative spirit of people like you, who are eager to donate their time and creative ideas. By collaborating with us, you will be part of a dynamic community dedicated to providing essential support to people of all walks of life who may be going through a hard time.  

We hope that you will be inspired to help us in one of the following ways. Your involvement, however big or small, can spark hope and change, and together, we can create lasting impacts within our community and in individual’s lives.

Small steps, big impact!!

FUNDRAISE

As a non-profit making organisation that relies on volunteers and donations, fundraising is an impactful way of supporting us. Every cent raised goes directly to the funding of the CHS Helpline. It helps to cover the costs of the telephone equipment that our volunteers use as well as the costs of the calls that are made to the Helpline.

There are numerous ways to contribute. Just to give you some ideas: organising fundraising events, such as coffee mornings, bake sales, or garage sales hosting or participating in a sponsored run, walk, swim or cycle …

PROMOTE THE HELPLINE

At CHS, we understand the immense power of word of mouth in spreading awareness about our services, including our vital Helpline. Maybe you know somebody personally who could benefit. Perhaps you are in a position, at work or in a club, where you can help to publicise the Helpline? With the ever-increasing reach of social media and the timeless impact of face-to-face conversations, our community plays a crucial role in amplifying our message and extending our reach far beyond traditional advertising methods.

Help Us Spread the Word!
We invite you to join us in our mission to reach as many people as possible with the lifesaving services CHS offers. Help promote our Helpline through your social media channels, sharing our posts, and using the hashtag #CHSHelpline. Consider displaying our posters in your community or workplace Engaging in conversations with friends, family, and colleagues about the support we provide. Your voice is powerful! Together, we can ensure that everyone who needs help knows exactly where to find it. Thank you for your support and commitment to making a difference!

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP

At CHS, we believe that supporting mental health and well-being extends beyond individual growth—it cultivates thriving communities and successful businesses. 

We invite forward-thinking, companies with an international workforce and a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility to partner with us in our mission to enhance well-being both inside and outside the workplace. 

By sponsoring CHS, your company will not only directly contribute to improving mental health and saving lives, it will also deliver a clear message to your workforce that you care about mental health and are actively seeking ways to support their well-being and that of their families.  

Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that benefits individuals, families, and communities at large. Let’s work hand in hand to build a healthier, more sustainable future. Join us on this transformative journey.

To discuss how you can become a corporate sponsor, email our External Relations Officer at: john.chalmers@chs.belgium.org.

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CONTACT

+32 (0)2 647 67 80
  Mon–Fri 10am-1pm

Office hours: 10am–4pm
                       Mon–Fri

Avenue des Phalènes 26,
1000 Brussels,
Belgium

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© CHS. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie policy.